Max Verstappen has a new training regime: less high-tech simulator, more Nintendo Switch chaos. If you needed proof that even world champions get bored, here it is — in glorious kart-throwing, banana-peel form.

Mario Kart practice beats the expensive rig

After a season opening that had fans calling some races a bit too much like a video game, Verstappen leaned into the joke. He admitted he swapped his proper simulator for a much cheaper alternative and put in laps on Mario Kart. He said mushroom hunting went well, blue shells are still tricky, and the rocket is not in his toolkit yet but it is “coming.”

Yes, the world champion telling you he used a Switch to practice is silly. It also underlines a serious point: he is not thrilled with how the current cars feel behind the wheel.

Not leaving F1, just collecting other thrills

Make no mistake, Verstappen said he does not want to walk away from Formula 1. But he also wants to have fun driving again. To scratch that itch he plans to race the Nordschleife and is aiming to try his hand at endurance events at Spa and Le Mans in the coming years. He mentioned he is putting together other projects that are “fun” and that his team and engine division work remains something he enjoys.

Still, he admitted there is a tension: he loves the people and the project, but driving the current F1 car does not give him the same joy it used to. He hopes that will change.

Talks with F1 and FIA about fixing the fun

Verstappen said he has been in discussions with Formula 1 and the FIA. The big picture they are eyeing is 2027, when more significant changes to power units could happen. But he also hinted that if issues around energy management show up again, there might be smaller corrections as soon as after the next race in China — and he hopes for meaningful improvements by next season.

In short: there are a couple of options on the table, conversations are happening, and the goal is to stop feeling like you are driving a fancy battery on rails rather than a race car.

Quick takeaways

  • Mario Kart over the simulator: Verstappen joked he practiced on a Nintendo Switch and found it useful.
  • Still in F1: He is committed to the sport but wants changes to make driving fun again.
  • Endurance plans: Nordschleife is on the list; Spa and Le Mans are targets.
  • Change talks: Discussions with F1 and FIA are ongoing, with bigger changes eyed for 2027 and possible tweaks sooner.

So what’s the headline? The world champion is not quitting; he is just hedging his happiness. If the sport does not make driving feel fun again, expect to see Verstappen chasing different kinds of glory and possibly a few more Nintendo-fueled press conferences. In the meantime, the circus will try to tune the cars so drivers stop feeling like they are piloting an energy spreadsheet and start feeling like they are racing again.